and he regretted that he had given Hamilton his parole of honor not to
attempt to escape.

Among the Indians occasionally reporting to Hamilton with their ghastly
but valuable trophies was Long-Hair, who slipped into the fort and out
again rather warily, not having much confidence in those Frenchmen who
had once upon a time given him a memorable run for his life.

Winter shut down, not cold, but damp, changeable, raw. The work on the
fort was nearly completed, and Rene de Ronville would have soon been
relieved of his servile and exasperating employment under the Irish
Corporal; but just at the point of time when only a few days' work
remained for him, he became furious, on account of an insulting remark,
and struck the Corporal over the head with a handspike. This happened
in a wood some miles from town, where he was loading logs upon a sled.
There chanced to be no third person present when the deed was done, and
some hours passed before they found the officer quite cold and stiff
beside the sled. His head was crushed to a pulp.

Hamilton, now thoroughly exasperated, began to look upon the French
inhabitants of Vincennes as all like M. Roussillon and Rene, but
waiting for an opportunity to strike him unawares. He increased his
military vigilance, ordered the town patrolled day and night, and
forbade public gatherings of the citizens, while at the same time he
forced them to furnish him a large amount of provisions.

When little Adrienne Bourcier heard of Renews terrible act, followed by
his successful escape to the woods, and of the tempting reward offered
by Hamilton for his scalp, she ran to Roussillon place well-nigh crazed
with excitement. She had always depended upon Alice for advice,
encouragement and comfort in her troubles; but in the present case
there was not much that her friend could do to cheer her. With M.
Roussillon and Rene both fugitives, tracked by wily savages, a price on
their heads, while every day added new dangers to the French
inhabitants of Vincennes, no rosy view could possibly be taken of the
situation. Alice did her best, however, to strengthen her little
friend's faith in a happy outcome. She quoted what she considered
unimpeachable authority to support her optimistic argument.

"Lieutenant Beverley says that the Americans will be sure to drive
Hamilton out of Vincennes, or capture him. Probably they are not so
very far away now, and Rene may join them and come back to help punish
the